San Diego Wave FC finished even with Angel City FC 1-1 in the team’s final match of the 2023 NWSL UKG Challenge Cup at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Wave opened the scoring in the 11th minute with an unassisted goal from midfielder Jaedyn Shaw. The 18-year-old intercepted the ball from an Angel City defender inside the box and ripped a left-footed shot into the lower left-hand-corner of the net.

Angel City responded five minutes later as Scarlett Camberos shot from long range and found the top right corner to level the match.

The Wave had a dominant second half, recording eight shots and five on target and holding the majority of possession with 53.4%. Goalkeeper Shae Yáñez made numerous saves in the second half to keep the scoreline level including a crucial save in stoppage time.

Jaedyn Shaw and Makenzy Doniak each nearly scored goals of their own, with Shaw skimming the top of the net, nearly putting the Wave on top in the 39th minute.

In the 53rd minute, a close Doniak shot was parried away for a corner, assisted by Shaw with a through ball. One minute following, Shaw’s corner found defender Madison Pogarch whose close-range header was saved. Doniak made another final attempt in stoppage time, but her shot was blocked as well.

Next on the schedule: The Wave head into a bye week before returning home to Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, August 19, to face NJ/NY Gotham FC in the regular season at 7:00 p.m. PT.

Notes:

  • Defender Abby Dahlkemper started tonight and wore the captain’s armband, making her first appearance in 309 days for the Wave. Dahlkemper returned to action after being put on the Season Ending Injury list in Oct. 2022 due to a back injury and surgery. The center back subbed out of the match at halftime after a solid 45 minutes back to play.
  • Days after being announced to a new contract through 2026, 18-year-old forward Jaedyn Shaw scored her eighth professional goal tonight across all competitions.
  • Forward Melanie Barcenas made her second-ever start tonight for the club, playing 68 minutes and recording two shots on goal. The 15-year-old local forward is in her rookie season with the Wave after signing as the youngest player in NWSL history. 

Box Score:
San Diego Wave FC 1:1 Angel City FC

Scoring Summary:
SD – Shaw (1) 11’
LA – Camberos (1) 16’

Misconduct Summary:
SD – Doniak (Caution) 35’
LA – Gorden (Caution) 57’

San Diego Wave FC: GK Yáñez, D Pogarch, D Riehl, D Westphal, D Dahlkemper © (Briede HT), M Enge, M Dougherty-Howard, M Barcenas (Ali 68’), F Doniak, F Shaw, F Hill

Subs not used: GK Brzykcy, D Cortez, D Cummings, D Gyua, M Turnbow, M DeMarco, F Connors

Angel City FC: GK Haračić, D Hill (Eddy 60’), D Gorden, D Ried, D Nielson, M Nabet (Hammond HT), M McCaskill (Johnson 60’), M Weatherholt ©, F Camberos (Emslie 73’), F Le Bihan, F Spencer

Subs not used: GK Isenhour, GK Anderson, M Pluck, D Vignola

Stats Summary: SD / LA
Shots: 19 / 12
Shots on Target: 10 / 5
Saves: 4 / 9
Corners: 6 / 7
Fouls: 15 / 12
Offsides: 2 / 0
Possession: 50.5% / 49.5%